Wash. Post: R. Blunt Tried to Sneak Legislation Through

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt with \"velvet hammer\" following his election last November as House Majority Whip.

(Photo from Roy Blunt's Congress website)

By KWMU

Washington, DC – The Washington Post reports Wednesday that Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt tried to quietly add language that would benefit Philip Morris into the almost 500-pages of legislation that created the Homeland Security Department.

The move came last November, just hours after Blunt was elected whip, the third highest GOP post in the House. The provision would have made it harder to sell tobacco online but was removed when top Republicans learned of the effort.

Blunt's son Andrew lobbies for Philip Morris in Missouri. His other son, Matt, is Missouri's Secretary of state. Congressman Blunt calls the provision good policy.